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Replacement of old surface welcome addition to Red and White's future
Published May 12, 2025 • 6 minute read
Quincy Vaughn
Listed as a quarterback on the Calgary Stampeders’ roster, Quincy Vaughn can also line up at tight end or fullback. Photo by Calgary Stampeders
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Never mind the welcome change of player talent at Calgary Stampeders training camp.
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The real star addition these days for the Red and White is the brand new turf of McMahon Stadium.
It’s a greener, more body-friendly surface that is bringing on smiles from the current crew of the CFL franchise …
Both on and off their freshly installed field.
“It’s awesome, man — it feels so good,” said star quarterback Vernon Adams Jr., during Monday’s second day of main camp but first session at McMahon for the club.
“I walked out here, and I’m like, ‘This feels good,’” continued Adams, the Stamps’ prized pickup of the off-season. “Last year when we were coming here as the away team, it was tough. But it feels amazing.”
“I love it,” agreed defensive-line star Flo Orimolade, who returns to the Stamps after bolting from the team following the 2022 CFL campaign. “I mean … it’s tough when it’s a bit slippery in the rain, but I got to work out on there a little bit last week, so it’s been good.
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“It’s much better on the knees … and ankles.”
That’s music to the ears of Stamps brass.
The last few years have brought criticism from the athletes regarding their health concerning the old surface as it neared the end of its lifespan.
FieldTurf, the manufacturer of the artificial turf, pegs its product to sport a shelf-life of seven to 10 years, and the last time the surface was replaced at McMahon was back in 2014.
Many players endured serious injuries while practising and playing on it, including talented receiver Malik Henry, who’s still rehabbing from a knee injury suffered last spring, a year after being sidelined by a blown Achilles.
Players have voiced concerns that the age and quality of the surface was a catalyst to those injuries, even though it met CFL approval.
“One of the things the CFL and the CFL Players’ Association do is they mandate testing that has to happen with the field to ensure that fields aren’t being overused and that there is not a player safety issue, which we fully support,” said Stamps president Jay McNeil. “And our field last year fell well within the acceptable ranges from that. But there was also talk about is it getting older and we did have a number of lower-body injuries. And right or wrong that could cause challenges with attracting players. As free agents that played here, if they perceive that it’s an issue, then it’s an issue.
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“And this eliminates any of that now,” continued McNeil. “So that certainly helps us as we look to attract players and want people to come to Calgary.”
Read More
[Calgary Stampeders head coach Dave Dickenson directs receiver Damien Alford during the Calgary Stampeders' rookie camp at McMahon Stadium on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.
Calgary Stampeders main camp: Day 1 brings 'off-the-charts' energy from 99 CFL hopefuls](https://calgaryherald.com/sports/football/cfl/calgary-stampeders/calgary-stampeders-main-camp-day-1-energy-99-cfl-hopefuls)
2. [Calgary Wild FC’s Maddy Wilson, left, battles Ottawa Rapid FC at McMahon Stadium in Calgary on Sunday, May 11, 2025.
Calgary Wild FC savours historic match to kick off women's pro soccer in city](https://calgaryherald.com/sports/calgary-wild-fc-savours-historic-match-to-kick-off-womens-pro-soccer-in-city)
It’s the same type of FieldTurf that was installed last May at Winnipeg’s Princess Auto Stadium.
And it differs from the previously placed FieldTurf in that it has green pellets now mixed in with always-used black pellets, helping to lower the surface temperature by as much as 10 C on a hot day — a major difference for the players during live action.
But the best attribute of the new field is how much more cushioned it is. It’s better on the body to run on, make cuts on while route-running and to land on.
“To be heard, it feels good,” said Stamps veteran Reggie Begelton, who’s been a major proponent of a needed change of surface for the last few seasons.
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“It feels good that they are showing that they are about the players,” continued Begelton. “We are the product of this league. And it’s tough for the product to perform at the best that they can. I’m glad that they heard us.
“Availability is the best ability,” continued Begelton. “How can you have your best team if your best players are all hurt? So to have those people available out there, you’ve got your best team.
“So we’ll see how it goes. But it is lovely, and it’s something worth having. Hopefully, it will help us to excel. And hopefully, it’ll help us win the Grey Cup.”
McNeil confirms it was always in the plans to make the switch after the 2024 CFL season — especially with the Grey Cup hosting duties on deck in 2026 and the arrival of Calgary Wild FC soccer this spring — and so the operator, the McMahon Stadium Society — in conjunction with stadium owner University of Calgary and in consultation with its main tenant, the Stampeders — went ahead with that gameplan.
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The old rug — which was reconditioned ahead of last CFL season thanks to joint funding by the Stampeders and the McMahon Stadium Society — was ripped up immediately after the Stamps’ season ended last October.
But McMahon Stadium had to wait until the first few days of May to install the new surface — that is after the threat of snow and winter conditions disappeared for good.
“Once the weather started working in their favour, they went right to work at it,” McNeil said. “They were working incredibly hard to make sure it was ready for us.”
And also ready for the city’s newest sports franchise, the Calgary Wild.
Calgary Wild FC vs Ottawa Rapid FC at McMahon Stadium
Calgary Wild FC Grace Stordy battles Ottawa Rapid FC Stella Downing in first-half NSL action at McMahon Stadium in Calgary on Sunday, May 11, 2025. Darren Makowichuk/Postmedia
YYC’s first-ever professional women’s soccer club opened Sunday with the new surface drawing rave reviews.
Its arrival on McMahon’s sports scene even improved the quality of this replacement FieldTurf for the 64-year-old stadium, because the surface had to meet strict FIFA requirements for Wild FC.
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“My first reaction was when I first saw it was, ‘Wow, it’s really green,’” McNeil said. “I didn’t realize how much the other turf had faded.
“But it looks good, and to walk on it — even just as a non-player — there is a noticeable difference in the quality of it. And then the feedback from our players has been tremendous. They’re all very excited.
“So even just from a mental aspect of there being no fear that this turf is going to cause injury, it’s going to be great. We’ve needed it, and we’re excited about it, for sure.”
It’s just one of the many aspects the Stamps have upgraded in their mission to improve in 2025 and beyond.
“The new field is a big deal, and it is just one piece how we’ve been focused on improving the player experience,” added McNeil. “It was, ‘How do we improve everything?’
“And so we upgraded the player lounge, we upgraded our weight room, and we’ve got a new food caterer for the season. It’s all about eliminating challenges off the field so our players can focus on winning on the field. And … you know … between all of that, our players, the feedback has been tremendous, and they’re excited about what we’re doing.”
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What is Fieldturf?
It’s a surface composed of monofilament polyethylene-blend fibres tufted into a polypropylene backing. The infill is composed of a bottom layer of silica sand, a middle layer which is a mixture of sand and cryogenic rubber and a top layer of only rubber.
FieldTurf has said infill from the old surface is recycled and reused.
Short yardage
Main camp continues for the Stamps on Tuesday at McMahon (9:05 a.m.) … The Red and White are gearing up for their first pre-season game, coming quickly next Monday against the host BC Lions in Vancouver (2 p.m., CHQR 107.3 FM/770 AM) … Their second and final pre-season tilt goes Saturday, May 24, against the visiting Edmonton Elks at McMahon (7:30 p.m., CHQR 107.3 FM/770 AM).
tsaelhof@postmedia.com
X: @ToddSaelhofPM
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